Zenit-2

11K77 Zenit 2

Mission Profile

The Zenit-2 (11K77) was a two-stage Ukrainian-Russian launch vehicle in the Zenit family, a high-performance medium-to-heavy-lift rocket using a single RD-171 engine on its first stage — the most powerful liquid rocket engine ever flown. Standing 57 m tall with a 3.9 m diameter and a liftoff mass of 460 tonnes, it generated 7,550 kN of liftoff thrust and could deliver 13,740 kg to low Earth orbit. First flying in April 1985, the Zenit-2 served both military and civilian missions from Baikonur, and its first stage also flew as a strap-on booster for the Energia super-heavy launcher.